Sound recording console

ABSTRACT

A control console (1) for use in sound recording, and/or effects such as dubbing, the console (1) having a plurality, say 100 of sound channels, the console comprising a touch sensitive channel selector (2) having as many touch sensitive elements (3) as there are selectable channels of the console (1), whereby to select a channel by touch on the selector (2).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a sound recording console.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sound recording consoles are generally physically large so much so thatthey are longer than the arm span of an operator who often hasphysically to move to left or right along the console in order tooperate channels, faders and modules which are at or adjacent one end orthe other of the console. Such movement by an operator is time-consumingand therefore expensive, and tiring and therefore prone to lead toerrors in operation, which can result in poor "take" with consequentneed for repetition, which again is expensive. With long consoles, theoperator is rarely positioned in the acoustic centre of the sound image.This results in coarse manipulations of the sound. Space is also a majorconsideration in this age of high rent and shrinking real estate. Largerooms for long consoles mean expensive rents. Future studios may nothave the room for a 60-channel console. Long digital consoles areextremely expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate thesedisadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided a control console for usein electronic control operations such as sound recording and/or effects,comprising a plurality of channels, and a touch sensitive channelselector means operative to select a desired channel of the console andhaving as many touch sensitive areas as there are selectable channels ofthe console, wherein the channel selector means comprises an elongatemember positioned substantially centrally of the console.

Using the invention it is possible to access selected remote channelsfrom a central position of the console. This arrangement provides for anergonomic arrangement so that an operator may sit in front of theconsole substantially centrally thereof and operate all channels fromone lateral extremity of the console to the other.

The elongate member may comprise a rod, bar or strip of translucentmaterial bearing the touch sensitive elements. This provides for arelatively simple construction.

The rod, bar or strip may be of glass.

The touch sensitive elements may comprise a metal strip running thelength of the rod, or studs spaced apart along the length of the rod.

Sensors may determine exactly within which channel area or segment atouch is occurring at all times.

The rod, bar or strip may be mounted flush in a fascia of the console.

The console may include, associated with the channel selector means, anindicator means for indicating whether or not a particular channel is inuse.

Control consoles for use in sound recording and effects embodying theinvention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with referenceto the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows schematically an elevational view of a fascia of theconsole according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a further console according to theinvention.

DETAIL OF DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are indicated by likenumerals, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a control console 1 for use insound recording, and/or effects such as dubbing, the console 1 having aplurality, say 100 (60 on FIG. 2), of sound channels, the consolecomprising a touch sensitive channel selector means 2 having as manytouch sensitive elements 3 as there are selectable channels of theconsole 1, whereby to select a channel by touch on the selector means 2.

The channel selector means 2 is situated centrally of the console fascia4 and is a translucent member, in the embodiments shown being in theform of a rod of transparent glass which has along one edge 5 in FIG. 1a plurality of spaced apart metal studs forming the touch sensitiveelements 3, there being as many studs 3 as there are channels, in thiscase there therefore being 100 studs as there are 100 channels. In FIG.2 the elements comprise segments or sections 3. The sections 3 in FIG. 2comprise an invisibly segmented touch sensitive metal strip which issensitive only in the middle of each segment, so that an operator'sfingers do not inadvertently activate an adjacent channel. The rod 2 hasidentification means such as numbers which indicate which stud orsegment 3 controls which channel. The studs or segments 3 are connectedelectrically to the electronics/software comprising each channel, whichelectronics/software does not of itself form part of the invention sowill not be described further here.

The glass rod 2 is a semi-cylindrical rod set in a duct in the fascia 4so that it is flush with the surface of the fascia 4.

The console 1 includes a plurality (nine in FIG. 1, though there arepreferably ten, as in FIG. 2) of physical faders 6 and a plurality ofmodules 7 associated therewith so that these are less in number than thenumber of channels. There is also an indicator means in the form of anLED display 8 above (as viewed) each channel stud 3.

In FIG. 2, the rod 2 incorporates indicating means in the form of a fivesegment LCD display 2' beneath each segment 3 to indicate where, inrelation to the ten physical faders, each selected channel appears. Inother words, if channel 5 has been selected to physical fader (andchannel) 10 (the furthest physical channel to the right as viewed) thena short line or indicator 2" pointing to the extreme right will appeardirectly underneath the associated rod segment (5). This indicator 2"serves two functions. It shows which inputs have been selected forchannel manipulation and it shows, at a glance, where to direct the eyeto quickly grab one.

In FIG. 1 the dash-lines indicate the desk length of the console 1.

It will be appreciated that the rod 2 in the embodiment of FIG. 1 iseffectively divided into segments by the studs 3, there being as manysegments as there are channels to be selected. In use of eitherembodiment, when an operator wishes to select any channel, he merelyruns his hand along the rod 2 and touches the appropriate stud orsegment 3 for the associated channel. This means that if he wants toselect a channel to the far left, say channel 1, he touches the lefthand end of the rod 2 without having physically to move to the left ofthe console 1. The rod 2 physically controls the channels remotely. Whenthe operator wants to access another channels, he touches thecorresponding area of the rod 2 so that the channel can be repeatedlychange. In addition to indicating the channel numbers associated witheach channel, a particular musical instrument for example may also beindicated on the rod 2.

An LED of the display 8 also indicated that a signal is present in aparticular channel. Each LED display has a plurality of separate LEDsfor each segment so that another LED displays the fact that fadermovement is in progress. A third LED displays other information, forexample warning of channel overload.

This provides an equalisation display in that a line grows outwards,upwards, and/or downwards, indicating midrange, high frequence, or lowfrequence alterations respectively. This growing line would be a choiceof two colours. One colour line (e.g. red) would indicate a boost, whileanother colour (e.g. blue) would indicate attenuation is in progress.

As shown, the modules 7 associated with each physical fader are abovethem, as viewed, and are interrogated in a similar manner. The modulesare split into three sections, A, B, C, and have an area 9, a quick scanarea, which is sensitive to touch so, by touching the rod 2 quick scanarea 9 while sliding another finger along the rod 2 it is possible toscan the desk by touching the routing module to monitor what otherchannels are doing in the routing department. The area 9 is touchedbefore the rod 2. By touching the rod 2 in the appropriate segment, thesoftware is instructed to dump all channel related controls and displayto the individual physical channel that is selected and to begin thedumping process with the particular module touched. The areas 9 are infact sensitive in two halves, effectively a northern and southernhemisphere or semi-circle. By touching only the "southern" half only aleft equaliser (B) or one send (C) channel is placed into aninterrogation mode. This is thus a priority instruction 9 which speedsup the retrieval system to the point where all the channels can beinterrogated quickly, in fact as quickly as the eye could normally scanalong a long console. Stated in another way, the console 1 embodying theinvention allows the eye of the operator to be concentrated on thecentral fascia 4 whilst moving the finger along the master centralchannel selector rod 2. Alternatively, touching the complete surface ofan interrogation point 9 would priority dump display and control intoall physical channels and as a finger was run along the rod 2, thedisplays of all modules would change giving a visual effect equivalentto moving physically over the length of a long console. The console 1has a scribble strip 10 below the rod and above the faders 6, forwriting identification, viz. if 1-10 is written on the strip 10 afterselection, and channels 10-20 are then selected, the writing 1-10disappears and re-appears in miniature under the glass rod 2, thesemi-cylindrical shape of which magnifies the miniature writing.Alternatively one may write directly onto the mini-script 2'. Thiswriting remains there until wiped off. As channels are selected forcontrol, the operator's own handwriting/scrawl/language/symbols/etc.,appear, enlarged, onto the scribble script (10) over the appropriatefaders.

In the embodiment 9 FIG. 2, there is a single module "A" is a singulararea of controls located to the left above the rod 2 as viewed. Itcontains, for example, a routine module (32 tracks), high and low passfilters, compression and expansion devices, and a phase reversal switch.This module, A, can be a collection of any controls that are ofrelatively low priority in terms of needing to be displayed in aplurality or of those controls that are fiddled with the least, in use.

Finally, the faders 6 each have two buttons 11 and 12, one 12 for HOLDand one 11 for INJECT or REPLACE (FIG. 1). If the button 12 is heldwhilst selecting a channel whilst touching the rod 2, all faders changeexcept the one being held. If the button 11 is held whilst selecting achannel on the rod, then all faders 6 remain as they were except for theone which is replaced by the channel. In FIG. 2, the HOLD button is anoval node 20 positioned below the fader for easy access by the palm.This reduces reaction times to secure present selections while "diving"across the console to grab others. In referring to the REPLACE button asthe INJECT button, it injects any selected signal into any fader.

In both embodiments, functions (the instant listening of only onechannel for checking purposes) are accomplished by one or two ways. Eachfader has a solo button 14 FIG. 2. The area beneath each rod segment(same area used to display selected channel locations) is atouch/pressure sensitive solo button. Pressing will solo this channelregardless of its allocation status. The entire lower segment willalight. This same surface is a multi-function button that can serve toprogram mutes, for example.

A console embodying the invention is also suitable to control largechannels of MIDI information stated on another way, the console can beused for MIDI mixing/processing applications. (It will be understoodthat MIDI is a computer language used to control electronicinstruments).

I claim:
 1. A control console for use in electronic control operationsincluding sound recording or recording effects from a plurality ofchannels, said console comprising a plurality of channel indicatorsequal to said plurality of channels and corresponding to each thereof,said plurality of channel indicators being distributed across saidcontrol console, and a plurality of control devices being substantiallyless in number than the plurality of channels, and said control consolefurther comprising a touch sensitive channel selector meansinterconnected with said plurality of channels and said channelindicators for selecting a desired number of channels from among saidplurality of channels, up to the number of said plurality of controldevices, and to allocate a corresponding one of said plurality ofcontrol devices to each said selected channel and to activate theindicator corresponding to each said selected channel, whereby theselected channel to the control device allocation substantially reducesthe overall dimensions of the control console relative to a controlconsole having one control device for each channel.
 2. A control consoleas claimed in claim 1, wherein said channel selector means is repeatedlyoperable to change the channel to control device allocation.
 3. Acontrol console as claimed in claim 2, wherein said channel selectormeans further includes indicia indicating the content of thecorresponding selected channel.
 4. A control console as claimed in claim2, wherein said channel selector means comprises a continuous elongatemember.
 5. A control console as claimed in claim 4, wherein saidelongate member is selected from a group consisting of a rod, bar orstrip.
 6. A control console as in claim 5 wherein said elongate memberis translucent.
 7. A control console as in claim 5 wherein said elongatemember is comprised of glass.
 8. A control console as claimed in claim1, wherein a further indicator is provided for each said channel, saidfurther indicator indicating the control action carried out by theallocated control device.
 9. A control console as in claim 1 whereinsaid plurality of control devices are arranged adjacent one another.